A home-grown suicide prevention program is successfully raising awareness in rural Australia, which still has higher levels of suicide than other parts of the country.

Community Response to Eliminating Suicide, known as CORES, was developed by members of a small community in Tasmania 12 years ago.

CORES leaders are training hundreds of medical students and community members in the basics of suicide prevention.

The program is operating in 24 communities, including Hay in New South Wales. The town lost six people to suicide in 20 months, including a community leader and a teenage girl.

CORES executive officer Coralanne Walker says Hay has become a role model for others.

"A lot of people still won't even say the word or talk about suicide," she said.

"So when you get a community like Hay that has suffered so much, but they are embracing the problem and they know there is a need to make sure that as many people as possible are trained, it's really, really humbling."

'Prevent a funeral'

Peter Dwyer, one of the founders of the local suicide prevention group, called a public meeting to get the problem out in the open.

Fifty locals have already completed the CORES training. Another 50 will go through in November.

Mr Dwyer says one day can save a life.

"One day out of your life may save the life of someone one day," he said.

"We can always take time out to go to their funeral. Why can't we take a day off work and do some training that may prevent that funeral from happening?"

Often there is no doctor on duty on weekends in Hay, so people admitted to hospital are taken 160 kilometres to Griffith to receive treatment.

Mr Dwyer says the residents of the town realised they had to take action because of the isolation and the lack of services.

"The town [needs] to grab it by the scruff of the neck and start helping themselves because they have got to be able to reach into every social group, they've got to be able to reach into every sporting organisation," he said.

Always a risk

Despite the progress, the people of Hay know another suicide could occur at any time. It is a case of being vigilant and caring.

Mr Dwyer's best mate was one of the victims. It was a big loss for the community and a reminder of the dangers.

"That was pretty tough, not only on myself and his family, but also the rest of the community," Mr Dwyer said.

"He was a very loved man and that hit us pretty hard. We are probably still getting over that."

As part of the program, locals are trained and some go on to become trainers, helping others.

Resources company BHP is sponsoring the introduction of the program in Cloncurry and Julia Creek, in Queensland, to take care of rural and mining workers and their families.

"The workers who are out in those areas are often overworked, and having people within the community who can pick things up a lot earlier is also going to make their jobs easier," Ms Walker said.

Ms Walker says it has also become part of the curriculum for medicine at the University of Tasmania.

"It's the first time that I'm aware of that it's happened in Australia," she told PM.

"From our humble beginnings in Sheffield, to be recognised on a professional level through the university, it's fantastic."

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call Lifeline on 131114.